Hopeless Romantic -- Brallon

{12}

DJW

I try to explain. "Brendon, I-"

"No, Dallon, I'm sorry. Sorry for thinking you actually felt the same. Sorry for falling for you for so long." His voice cracks.

I see the glistening tears threatening to fall from Brendon's face as he runs out of the bathroom. No, no, no, no, no! He feels horrible, and it's all my doing..

I forget Ryan is there until he lets go of me.

"Ryan! I'm sorry, but..." I notice he's stopped crying. He's wipes his eyes and looks up at me.

"No, Dallon. Go to him. I'll be okay. I'll try to get over you for now. Just go to him." He smiles.

I nod and race out the door, looking for Brendon. I run to the cafeteria table where we were sitting, asking Spencer and Ryan S. if they've seen Brendon.

They say Brendon was too fast for them to react, but he ran off to the football field. He's probably at the bleachers. I start to run there, thinking about how much I've fucked up.

I see Brendon sitting at the bottom of the seats. He doesn't look that upset anymore, but he has a confused face for some reason.

I run up to him and try to explain the situation once again, also explaining to myself what happened. Everything went by so fast and nobody had time to react. "I'm sorry, Brendon. I still don't like Ryan anymore, and he was literally crying in the bathroom when I got in! I actually didn't know wh-"

"No, Dallon. I'm sorry. I overreacted and my stupid brain couldn't process what was happening in time. I understand." He gives me a small smile. I guess he's okay. I still feel like shit, though.

"I still want to make up for what happened. Do you want to hang out after school? My house and Dr. Pepper?" I ask. I want to make everything right again. I hope he forgives me.

Brendon nods. "Sure. Just without the soda stains."

I smile and we hug. He smells like cinnamon, with a hint of cherry. Huh. The scents don't seem to go together, but he makes it work. Pleasantly weird. (I'm laughing because I have a new idea for a story and this part reminds me of it. I'm writing it right now along with this book.)

I laugh and we let go of each other. "You... You kind of smell like cinnamon and cherry, if that's possible. I don't know how."

He shrugs while smirking. "I guess I just have an impeccable style." He opens his mouth to speak again but the bell cuts him off. Lunch is over already??

"I should get to English if I don't want to be late." I say. The English classroom is across the campus, so if I go now, I'd make it to class on time.

"I have history, so I'm fine. I'll see you later today?" He asks.

"Yep. See ya!" I yell as I run to my next class. I check my watch. Two minutes, I can totally make it.

The bell rings as I sit in my seat. Technically not late. I smile at the accomplishment. I'm feeling much better. Everything will be alright, for now.

~~~

Class ends, and Spencer walks up to me with a questioning look.

"Is everything okay with you? And Brendon? And Ryan?" He asks.

I nod. "Yeah. Brendon's actually coming over to my house again after school. We made up. Also, Ryan said he'll try to get over me. He seems fine too. Everything's okay."

He shakes his head. "Only for now. I wouldn't be surprised if you come across another problem. You're part of a love triangle from hell." He laughs at the end.

"Hey! Don't jinx anything!" I exclaim.

"Dallon, when have I ever given you bad advice?" He asks while we walk through the hallway.

I think for a second. "Hmm, how about when you gave me advice about Brendon in the first chapter? That wasn't helpful." (Pfft what's a fourth wall?)

Spencer laughs. "True, actually." He squints his eyes at something in the distance. I look to the front of the hallway and see Linda. "Hey, I'll catch up with you later, okay?" He jogs over to Linda and gives her a peck on the cheek as she giggles.

Awww.

I wish I had a relationship like that. Not yet, though. I'm not ready. I don't think I can handle caring for someone else. I had Ryan for a while, but I depended on him. That was barely a relationship. He forced us together, when I said we wouldn't work.

Maybe Brendon could be different. I mean, Ryan is kind of a horrible person for trying to change himself around me and not letting me accept him for what he's truly like. He's so sensitive too. He bottles up his feelings inside and lets it out at the worst possible times. Brendon doesn't do that. He's kind and such a good person.

Shit. I don't have a crush on Brendon! He's liked me for years, how am I just starting to feel the same? Do I? Should I? Will I? AM I?

I shake my head and get on with the rest of the day. At least I get to be with Brendon after school. And I get to drink Dr. Pepper. Win-win.

~~~

I see Brendon after last period ends. I start to walk to him until I accidentally drop my books on the floor. Wow, I couldn't get any more clumsy, huh? I usually carry some books from my backpack in my arms. It's a weird habit of mine, but I can't seem to stop. It feels empty not holding something. Now I'm not. Because my books are on the floor.

I start to pick them up but another hand reaches for the same book. I look up to see Brendon with his hand on mine. He smiles, and I laugh.

"Pretty cliché, huh?" I ask.

He agrees and chuckles. I pick up the rest of my books and we stand up.

"Ready to go? My car's closer to the school, so we won't have to walk for long." Brendon says.

I nod. "My mom's not at home today, so we won't have anybody screaming about using protection." Brendon and I laugh again and start walking out the school doors and to his car.

We get inside his car and we listen to music again. During the drive to my house, it's basically the same thing we did last time, except without the whole ice cream mess.

~
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Songs referenced:
(IDKHBTFM is directly referenced as a band)
Modern Day Cain -IDKHBTFM
Everything Will Be Alright -The Killers
Ready to Go -Panic! At The Disco